Podyjí National Park National Park

Website: https://www.nppodyji.cz

Hours: Open year-round (outdoor areas). Visitor centres have seasonal hours.

Admission: Free (parkland). Some visitor centres/exhibits may charge small fees.

Podyj7 National Park is a protected area in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic that preserves a narrow, forested canyon along the Dyje (Thaya) river. The park was designated in 1991 to protect the valley’s volcanic and sandstone cliffs, mixed broadleaf forest and riverine habitats.

A network of marked hiking trails follows the river through steep slopes and wooded ridges, offering multiple lookout points over the canyon and the river meanders. The park’s compact footprint concentrates geological and ecological variety into relatively short walking routes suitable for day hikes and wildlife observation.

Protected tracts in the Dyje valley were consolidated and given national-park status in 1991 to ensure cross-border habitat continuity with adjoining Austrian conservation areas. Management focuses on maintaining the river corridor, native forests and traditional land uses that shape the valley.

Situated along the Czech-Austrian border in South Moravia, the park lies west of the town of Znojmo and directly abuts the Austrian border near the market town of Hardegg on the Austrian side.

• Unique landscape: The park follows a narrow cross-border river valley and is prized for its steep slopes and microclimates that support diverse flora and fauna.
• Access and trails: Established as a national park in 1991, the area remains relatively compact and is best explored on marked trails that follow the river canyon.

What to See#

• Dyje valley (canyon): The steep river canyon formed by the Dyje (Thaya) river, with a sequence of cliffs, forested slopes and riverside meadows that form the park’s central protected zone.
• Vranov Reservoir: Vranov Reservoir and its shoreline area near Vranov nad Dyj7, which lies on the southern edge of the park and is a local recreational and viewpoint area.

Podyjí National Park lies along the Czech-Austrian border in South Moravia near the historic town of Znojmo. The usual access is by car from Znojmo: drive from Znojmo town centre toward the park entrances (the drive to nearby trailheads is typically a short one of minutes). From Brno (the nearest large city) the drive to the Znojmo area is roughly an hour by road. Once at a park entrance you proceed on marked trails on foot.

• Start from Vranov nad Dyjí to access the park's most popular trails and viewpoints, then extend your walk along the less‑visited valley floor toward the border for quieter scenery.
• Plan weekday hikes or early starts to avoid weekend local crowds that concentrate at the main viewpoints and castle access points.
• Bring a printed park trail map or pick one up at the visitor centre-many side trails follow the border with Austria and it's easy to miss quieter river‑level paths if you stick only to the main routes.